Pence plays role of defender-in-chief in Ohio

By RANDY LUDLOW

Columbus Dispatch

STRONGSVILLE

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence spoke Friday morning to a crowd of about 400 in the Cleveland area, showing the calm gravitas he displayed in his well-regarded debate performance Tuesday against Democrat vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine.

“I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican,” Pence said in introducing himself before speaking for nearly an hour, and taking a few crowd questions, at a community recreation center.

He delivered what he called “common-sense conservative” talking points that appear to elude Trump at times. The crowd seemed to love Pence for it, whether he spoke about overturning the legality of abortion, dismantling Obamacare or ensuring local control of K-12 education.

Pence dismissed his debate showing against Democrat Hillary Clinton’s No. 2, saying, “From where I sat Donald Trump won that debate.”

It is Trump’s vision and voter support driving the GOP bus, he said. But Trump, he conceded “is kind of fun to watch.”

“He isn’t going tip-toeing around those 1,000 rules of political correctness. … He speaks from his heart, he speaks from his mind and the American people hear him loud and clear,” Pence said.

Pence spoke in Strongsville before The Washington Post revealed a video Friday of Trump making lewd, sexually charged comments about women in 2005.

He called out Clinton for a perceived list of sins, including a “weak and feckless” foreign policy that led to the rise of the Islamic state, her State Department email scandal and flawed economic proposals.

The Trump-Pence ticket, and tough and fair trade agreements, is “going to make this economy take off like a jackrabbit,” he said a month before the Nov. 8 election.

Some who showed up to see Pence appreciate the fact he is the polished politician, one with executive and congressional experience, in contrast to Trump’s selling point as the outsider.

A new Politico/Morning Consult poll found that a third of Trump supporters wish the ticket was flip-flopped, with Pence as the presidential candidate and Trump as the No. 2.

Margie Bowden, 68, a retired dog trainer from North Olmstead, was among them this morning.

“I like Trump, but Pence is top notch. He’s so professional,” she said. “I wish Trump would be a little more presidential. Some of the things that come out of his mouth – he should cool it.”

Others appreciate what they see as Pence’s competence and the calm he has brought to the ticket, but aren’t about to switch the GOP ticket.

“I think Mr. Pence is a great guy, but we need an outsider running the Oval Office,” said Keith Robilotta, 65, a chemical salesman from Strongsville. “I’ve got less concerns about Donald than I do about Hillary.”